Road grader



ZShQQtS-Sheet T. P. WRIGHT ROAD GBADER Filed Jan. 18, 1932 Nov. 29, 1932 w w w w V BY M ATTORNEY wnnsss:

New. 29, 1932. T. P. wRiGHT ROAD GRADER Filed Jan. 18, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMASP. wnrenn or ATLANTA, GEORGIA, nssrenoa ro MeL riwHnEr. 'ROAID MACHINECOMPANY, me,- or ATLANTA, enoaem, A CORPORATION or enonera ROAD enhnnr.

Applicationfiled January 18, 1932. Serial No. 531 113. I

The invention relat es toa road grader the provision of a machine ofthischaracter 1 wherein the same possesses considerable weight and is ofconsiderable length, being supported upon SlX pans of. wheels, onepair10 of these being vertically adjustable so that when these wheels arelowered all the other wheels except the front pair are moved off thesurface which enables the machine to be H readily turned aroundand tocross bridges, tracks and the like withthe scraper blade in inoperativeposition;

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter wherein the construction thereof is novel in form and 29 isequipped with a laterally ustable tongue which can be set at an angle,while the scrap ing blade is adjustable in a novel manner,

A further objectof theinvention is the provision of. a machine of thischaracter which is extremely simple in construction thoroughlyreliableand eflicient in its purpose, strong,

durable, readily and easily adjusted, and in-' expensive tomanufacture.n With these and other objects'in view, the' O invention consists in thefeatures or construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated intheaccompanying drawings, which'disclose the preon the line 33 of Figure1 looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view showing v how the front wheels areswiveled to the frame.

Figure 5 is a sectional'view on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in detailthemanner of adj usting the scraping blade. 7

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view.

spending parts throu in'the drawings. 1

Referring to'the drawings in detail, A designates generally the frame ofthemachine' which is composed of heavy material Similar referencecharacters indicate correghout the several views and strengthened bycross pieces land the braces 2. The braces Q-are angularly disposed andcross each other at the longltudi nal center line of the frame A. Theframe A is of considerable length and is supported by six sets or pairsof wheels 3, the front wheels 3 being swiveled to the front of theframerasshown at 1 in Figure & ofthe drawmgs. V v a I A shaft 5 isjournaled in the frame an appreciable distance from the center thereofand to the rear of the frame and this shaft is formed with crank ends 6which are located beyond the sides ofthe frame, the extremities of thecranks forming. journals for the large wheels 7. Thus by partly rotatingtheshaft in one direction the wheels 7 will be lowered to engage theground or road surface and thuslift the frame A so that allthe wheels 3will be lifted offthexground with the exception ofthe' front wheels 3.When the tion the=wheels7 will be lifted so that the wheels 3'wil1contact the road surface. A

lever Sis connected with'theshaft 5 and a cable 9 extends from the upperend of the lever to a drum 1O journale'd in the front of the frame A andthe axle of said drum'is connected by the gears 11 to a shaft 12 whichis provided "with a hand wheel 13 arranged at a point where the operatorcan readily reach the samefor manipulation thereof.

The scraper blade 14 is adjustably connected in anysuitable manner tothe holder 15 which'is raised and lowered by the; screw shafts 16l1aving the hand wheelsfli connected to their upper ends. Eachofthescrew shafts 16 is mounted in a bearing memher '18 disposed crosswiseofthe frame A and the said shaft carries jamb nuts 19 which coact withthe. bearing 18on adjustment for takin out all vertical play-to theblade 14L by locking the rotation'of the screw shaft 16. a V The bladecarrier slidably fits within castings arranged on the side sills of theframe A and these castings are designed to hold the carrier in verticalposition and to permit free movement when adjusting up or down. Formedon the carrier adj acent to the connection of each shaft 16 therewith isan ear 21 to which is pivoted at 22a swinging 23, the same being pivoted24 to 'a thrust casting 25 and this arm acts to shove blade let aheadinstead of pulling upon the same and by such mounting of the carriereliminates vibration of blade and throws the weight of the machine ontothe blade at all times when cutting.

WVhen the blade is properly adjusted it will not be necessary to changethe same for a long time as the construction of the machine enables theblade to do its work without the help of a man to adjust the same.

The length of the machine is quite an asset and makes it possible forthe machine to do excellent work, as by making the machine of 7considerable. length and supportingit by the six sets or pairs ofwheels, the blade 'l i is 2;: held out of low places and is notpermitted to go too deep in high places. By using a plurality of wheelsthe machine is kept out of holes and at the same time the blade isprevented from cutting too deep. By mak- 39 ing the machineof-considerable weight the blade will cut the road surface regardless ofsmall obstacles and the roughness of the road and the blade will cutsmoothly and only where needed. By lowering the wheels 3;? 7 the majorportion of the machine islifted from the ground so that the machine canbe readily turnedaround and can crossbridges, tracks and the likewithout obstruction."

At the front endof the frame'A is ar-- 49 ranged a quadrant 26, the endsof which are horizontally pivoted at 27 so that said quadrant willhavefree vertical movement while; mounted centrally of the forward endofthe frame. A is a coupling 28 for a laterally swinging tongue 29, thisbeing the draft tongue and being susceptible of lateral augu laradjustment upon the quadrant 26, the lat ter being formed with spacedholes 30 and r0 likewise the tongue has a hole 31' for registration withthe holes 30 and these lastadjustably accommodate a .pin 32 so that thetongue 29 can be fastened in its adjusted position. The quadrant 26 nearopposite ends is formed with stops 33 which limit the lateral swingingof the tongue. The tongue is swung against either of the stops 83 whenit is'desired to make a sharp turn either right or lefta i g The forwardcorner portion of the frame A, has fitted therein tension rods 3a, whichserve to transfer pull of tractor-of the] frame of A the machine,theserods being disposed'in a forwardlybonvergent relation to each-other, wd'js fi eeiwt m h oeee eifi in the scope of the frame close to oppositesides of the coupling 28.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is .to be understood that changes may be madein theconstruction andinthe combination and 1 arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall withappended claims. 7 What is claimed is i i 1. Aroad grading machine comprising a frame of considerable weight andlength, a

plurality of pairs of wheels for supporting the frame, means forsWivelling the front wheels to the frame, a blade carried by the frame,a pair of extra wheels located rearwardly of the central part of theframe, and means for raising and lowering the said wheels, said extrapair of wheels, when 10w ered, lifting the framewith all but the frontpair of wheels oh the ground.

' 2. A road grading. machine comprising a frame, a plurality of pairs ofwheels for supporting the frame, means for swiveling the front wheels tothe frame, a blade carried by the frame, 'a pair of extra wheels locatedrearwardly of the central part of the frame, said extra pair of wheelswhen lowered lifting the frame with all'but the front pair of wheels'oifthe ground, a shaft journaled in the frame and having crank ends to.which the extra p'air 'of' wheels is. connected, and means for rockingthe shaft from the front end of the machine; j 7' f 3. A road gradingmachine comprising a frame of considerable weight and. length, aplurality of pairs of wheels'for supporting the'frame, means for.swivelling the front wheels to the frame, a blade carried the frame, apair of extra wheels located rearwardly of'the'central part of theframe, means for raising and lowering the said wheels, saidextra pair ofwheels, when lowered, lifting the frame with all but the front pair ofwheels ofi the ground, a'blade car rier fitted within the framejforvertical sliding movement, [and arms pivoted in the frame andto theca'rrier to exert a forward thrust totheblade carrier." i In testimon'ywhereof Iaflix my signature.

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